Offshore well bore apparatus and method of operating the same



Jan. 2, 1968 G. M. RAULINS 3,361,205

OFFSHORE WELL BORE APPARATUS AND METHOD OF OPERATING THE SAME V Filed Aug. 6, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I. L y y '2; E

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J I l a I 16/ a v46 kfi/vrae fliMM/W I flrromla United States Patent 3,361,206 OFFSHORE WELL BORE APPARATUS AND METHOD OF OPERATING THE SAME George M. Raulins, Houston, Tex., assignor to Baker Oil Tools, Inc, Los Angeles, Calirl, a corporation of California Filed Aug. 6, 1965, Ser. No. 477,812 12 Claims. (Cl. 166-43) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Method of moving a device through a string of tubing closed against circulation of fluid, in which the fluid rearwardly of the device is alternately pressured and depressured to advance the device in step-by-step fashion in the tubing string, compressed fluid ahead of the device being allowed to by-pass to the rear of the device upon each depressuring of the fluid rearwardly of the device. An apparatus is provided-for performing such method.

The present invention relates to well apparatus, and more particularly to apparatus operable in well bores from remote locations.

Oil and gas wells have been completed in relatively deep water, such as water exceeding 300 feet in depth. These wells cannot, as a practical matter, be completed in a normal manner, but require well heads at the bottom of the sea with flow and control lines extending from the well head to gathering and control stations.

If rigs or service units were to be used directly over the well head in performing remedial work in the well bore, the cost would be prohibitively high. To obviate such high cost, well heads have been designed that allow remedial and service operations to be performed by having flow lines extend to the well head which are connected to parallel tubing strings in th well bore, one of the tubing strings being connected to the bottom of the other tubing string. A required tool is pumped through one of the flow lines into one of the tubing strings in performing the desired operation and it may be reversely pumped out of the hole by applying fluid pressure through the other flow line and tubing string. Each flow line may include a curved portion connected to the well head, such curved portion, for example, having a radius of curvature of at least five feet to permit pumping a straight tool or tools therethrough. The arrangement described above allows service tools to be pumped into and out of wells to accomcomplish different operations normally performed through use of wire line and service rigs.

During production of a well, a sand bridge may form in one of the parallel tubing strings above the point of communication between the strings to an extent preventing circulation from being used to wash out the sand bridge, as by reversely circulating washing fluid down through the other tubing string. It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and an operating system for reestablishing circulation through the tubing string so that the sand bridge can be washed out of the well bore.

Another object of the invention is to provide a method and an apparatus for pumping a tool down through a flow line and a tubular string in the well bore, in which the tubular string is closed to that circulation cannot be established through it.

A further object of the invention is to provide a method and apparatus for pumping a tool down through a flow line and a tubular string disposed in a well bore, which is closed below a valve in the tubular string in order to open the valve and permit fluid circulation through the tubular string to take place. If the closed condition is caused by a sand bridge in the tubular string, the establishment of fluid circulation through the open valve enables the sand bridge to be washed out.

This invention possesses many other advantages and has other objects which may be made more clearly apparent from a consideration of a form and method embodying the invention. This form and method are shown and described in the present specification and in the drawings accompanying and constituting a part thereof. They will now be described in detail, for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention; but it is to be understood that such detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a view of a system embodying the invention in connection with a subsea well bore, portions being illustrated diagrammatically;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged vertical section, with parts disclosed in elevation, of a hydraulic shifting apparatus after having opened a valve in the well bore;

FIG. 3 is a view of a portion of the apparatus disclosed in FIG. 1, with a sand washing tool in place;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the upper latching portion of the sand washing tool.

In the embodiment of the invention specifically illusrated in the drawings, a well casing A is disposed in a subsea well bore B that has a suitable well head C at its upper end immediately above the ocean floor F, this well head being connected to a pair of parallel tubular strings D, E, the lower ends of which communicate with a packer H, such as a dual packer, set in the well casing. One of the tubular strings D may be a production string through which the well production can flow upwardly to the top of the hole and then into a flow line I to a gathering point, the portion of the flow line above and adjacent to the well head C being curved to enable a suitable tool to be pumped into the tubing string D and, at a later point in time, out of the tubing string. The other tubing string E serves as a service string and has its lower end 10 connected to the first tubing string D below the dual packer H. The upper end of the second tubing string E is also connected to a flow line K, the portion adjacent to and above the Well head also preferably being curved so as to facilitate the movement of suitable devices or liquids into the well bore.

The Well production may carry formation sand into the tubing string, which may settle therein above the point of connection 10 between the two tubing strings. If the upper portion of the sand bridge 11 is not too high above such point of connection 10, it can be circulated out of the tubing string in several manners, including the pumping of a washing liquid down through the flow line K and service string E which will carry the sand up through the production tubular string D and into its flow line J for suitable disposal. In connection with this operation, a sand washing tool R (FIG. 3) may also be pumped down through the production string D and will be releasably secured in the production string with the lower end of the sand washing tool being disposed adjacent the upper end of the sand bridge 11.

In the event that the sand bridge 11 packs into the production string D at too high a point above the connection 10 between the tubing strings, it may not be possible to pump the sand bridge out of the tubing string D. In the anticipation of this possibility, an upper interconnection 12 between the production string D and the service string E is provided at a suitable location above the dual packer H, and, in fact, a plurality of such interconnections may be provided at spaced points along the tubing strings D, E. Each connecting tubing 12 between the tubing strings is open to the service string E and assigns ta communicates with a side port 13 in a landing nipple 14 forming part of the production string D. This side port is initially closed by a valve sleeve 15 having seal rings 16, 16 that straddle the port so as to prevent leakage of fluid between the production string D and the branch connection 12 leading to the service string E. Since this valve sleeve 15 is normally in closed position, and in view of the presence of the sand bridge 11 plugging the lower portion of the production string and its lower interconnection it) with the service string, circulation cannot be established in the normal manner for the purpose of moving well washing equipment through one of the flow lines K, I and down through one of the strings D, E to wash out the sand bridge. it is necessary to cliect opening of the port 13 by shifting the sleeve valve 15 so that circulation can then be established between the tubular strings D, E through the upper branch connection 12 above the sand bridge. In the present case, an apparatus and a method of shifting the sleeve valve 15 to an open position is provided that can be hydraulically moved down through the flow line 3 and tubing string D despite the fact that fluids cannot be circulated down through them.

As shown, a hydraulic ratchet type of tool T is provided that has a body portion 2t made of several interconnected parts. Thus, it includes an upper section 21 having an upper fishing head 22 and carrying a pair of oppositely directed packing cups 23, 24-, the lower of which faces downwardly and the upper of which faces upwardly. These cups 23, 2d are secured to the upper section 21 by an intermediate body or valve section 25 threadedly secured to the lower end of the upper section and clamping the opposed cups thcrebetween. A lower body or coupling section 26 is threadedly secured to the lower end of the valve section 25 and carries a plurality of circumferentially spaced longitudinally extending dogs 27 that are urged outwardly of the body by springs 28. A passage 29 extends upwardly through the body sections, communicating with upper side ports 3% in the upper body 21a below its closed upper head 22a that open to the exterior of the body above the upper packing cup 23. Fluid can pass upwardly through the passage 29, but its downward movement through the passage is prevented by a check valve in the form of a ball valve element 31 urged downwardly by a spring 32 into engagement with a valve seat 33.

The spring-pressed dogs or keys 27 have a length which is substantially greater than the gaps of the couplings forming part of the flow line I and the tubing string D. However, a recess 34 in the landing nipple 14 between the upper end of the closed sleeve 15 and an inclined shoulder 35 in the landing nipple therea bove is longer than the length of the dogs 27, allowing the latter to snap outwardly into the recess 34 with their lower ends capable of engaging the upper end of the valve sleeve 15. A downward force then imposed on the hydraulic ratchet shifting tool T can then shift the valve sleeve 15 downwardly in the landing nipple to a position opening the port 13, as determined by engagement of the valve sleeve with a lower shoulder 36 in the landing nipple.

The hydraulic ratchet and shifting tool T has a length that will permit it to pass through the curved portion of the flow line I. It is inserted in the flow line I at a shore location, or other out-of-water location, and this flow line has a pump 40 for applying pressure to the liquid in the flow line, the ability to pressure the liquid in the flow line and the production string being controlled by a suitable valve 41 that can be opened and shut intermittently, either manually or automatically. With the tool T installed in the flow line above water and downstream of the valve 41 and pump 4-0, pressure is applied by the pump to the liquid in the fiow line with the valve ll closed. Because of the compressibility of the liquid and the expansion of the flow line I and the tubing string D below it, the tool T is moved a short distance longitudinally of the fiow line, the valve 31 in the tool being closed and its packing elements 23, 2d sealing against the how line to prevent the liquid in the flow line and the tubing string from bypassing the tool T. The pressure at the surface is then relieved by opening the bypass valve 41, which will then allow the compressed fluid below the tool T to pass up through the body passage 29 past the check valve 31 and out through the upper ports 3t) into the flow line I above the packing cups. The bypass valve 41 is then recloscd so that pump pressure is again applied to the liquid in the flow line I and tubing string D to force the tool T downwardly and compress the liquid in the flow line and tubing string therebelow, whereupon the bypass valve 41 is again opened. This alternate action of opening and closing the valve 41 with the pump 49 operating is repeated to progressively and intermittently effect movement of the hydraulic ratchet tool T downwardly through the how line I and the tubing string D, until it passes into the landing nipple 14, its dogs 27 expanding outwardly to engage the upper end of a valve sleeve 15. The pressuring and depressuring cycle of the liquid in the flow line and the tubing string is continued to shift the hydraulic ratchet tool T downwardly to the extent at which it moves the valve sleeve 15 down in the nipple to fully open the side port 13 (FIG. 2).

After the port 13 has been opened, circulation is established between the tubular string D and the service string E, whereupon fluid can be pumped down through the service string K, E, passing out through the upper branch 12 into the nipple id and acting on the lower cup 24 to pump the tool T back up the tubular string D and through the flow line I to the surface.

A sand washing tool R can then be pumped down the llow line I and its curved portion into the tubing string D for latching in the tubing D above the sand bridge 11. Such sand washing tool can include a body oil having a latch mechanism 61 at its upper portion adapted to latch into a recess 62. of the tubing string D above the port 13. It has a downwardly facing packing cup 63 and an upwardly facing cup 64 for sealing against the production tubing, and a telescopic joint 65 that can shift downwardly of the body, the telescopic joint and the body 66 having a passage 66 therethrough communicating with side ports 67 in the body above the packing cups 63, 64 through which fluent materials can pass.

The lower end of the joint 65, when collapsed upwardly into the body as, will extend below the opened port 13, whereupon a washing fluid pumped downwardly through the flow line K and the service string E will pass through the upper branch connection 12 and side port 13 into the tubing string D, passing downwardly towards the sand bridge 11 and washing the sand upwardly through the telescopic joint 65 and body 60 through the ports 67 into the tubing string D, and thence upwardly therethrough and the other fiow line I to the surface. The latches 61 will snap into the recess d2 and prevent upward movement of the tool R in the tubing D. As the sand bridge 11 is washed away, the telescopic joint 65 shifts downwardly on top of the sand, so that the circulating fluid is effective to continue to wash the sand 11 away in a downward direction and pump it upwardly through the extension joint 65, body 66) of the tool, and ports 67 into the production tubing D thereabove, and through such production tubing and flow line I to the surface.

After the entire sand bridge has been washed away, a suitable retrieving tool (not shown) of a known type is pumped down through the flow line I and will engage the body 69 of the tool R with a suitable probe (not shown) extending into the body for the purpose of engaging the latches 61 and retracting them from the groove 62. Fluid under pressure is then pumped down through the flow line K and service string E into the tubing D, acting upon the packing cup 63 to pump the sand washing tool R upwardly through the production string D and the flow line J to the surface.

As stated above, a plurality of interconnecting branches 12 between the tubing strings D, E, each of which is controlled by a valve sleeve 15, may be provided so that a valve sleeve 15 immediately above the lower end of the sand bridge 11 can be shifted to a port opening position to permit fluid to be pumped down the service string E for the purpose of withdrawing the ratchet tool T, permitting another tool R to be then pumped down through the flow line J and the tubing string D into an operative position within the production tubing D.

The hydraulic ratchet tool can be used in other applications. If, for example, a tubing string is provided in which its lower end is closed and in which a valve sleeve is also in a closed position, the tool T can be intermittently hydraulically shifted down through the tubing until it reaches the valve sleeve, the downward movement being taken in a step-by-step or intermittent fashion through the compression and decompression of the liquid in the tubing string. When the shifting tool engages the valve sleeve, additional intermittent pressuring and depressurization will cause it to progressively shift the valve sleeve to an open position. When this occurs, the tool can be reversely circulated upwardly through the tubing string and flow line back to the surface in the manner described above.

I claim:

1. A method of moving a device through a tubular string containing a fluid and which is closed against circulation of fluid therethrough, in which the device is slidably sealed against the tubular string, comprising alternately pressuring and depressuring the fluid in the tubular string rearwardly of the device to shift the device forwardly therein upon the application of pressure to the fluid and allowing fluid in the tubular string forwardly of the device to bypass the device to the rear thereof upon depressuring the fluid, whereby the device remains in its forward position to which it has been shifted.

2. A method of shifting a member located in a tubular string in which a fluid is contained and which is closed against circulation of fluid therethrough, comprising moving a device through the tubular string in sealed relation therewith by alternately pressuring and depressuring the fluid in the tubular string rearwardly of the device to shift the device forwardly therein toward the member upon the application of pressure to the fluid and allowing the fluid forwardly of the device to bypass the device to the rear thereof upon depressuring the fluid, whereby the device remains in its forward position to which it has been shifted upon each pressure application to the fluid, and continuing such alternate pressuring and depressuring of the fluid to intermittently advance the device in the tubular string into engagement with the member and cause the device to shift the member.

3. A method of shifting a closed valve to open position which is located in a tubular string in which a fluid is contained and which is closed against circulation of fluid therethrough, comprising moving a device through the tubular string in sealed relation therewith by alternately pressuring and depressuring the fluid in the tubular string rearwardly of the device to shift the device forwardly therein toward the valve upon the application of pressure to the fluid and allowing the fluid forwardly of the device to bypass the device to the rear thereof upon depressuring the fluid, whereby the device remains in its forward position to which it has been shifted upon each pressure application to the fluid, and continuing such alternate pressuring and depressuring of the fluid to in termittently advance the device in the tubular string toward and into engagement with the valve and cause the device to shift the valve to open position.

4. A method of establishing communication between first and second tubular strings disposed in a well bore and having a passage therebetween closed by a valve in the first string, comprising moving a device through the first string in sealed relation therewith by alternately pressuring and depressuring the fluid in the first string rearwardly of the device to shift the device forwardly therein toward the valve upon the application of pressure to the fluid and allowing the fluid forwardly to the device to bypass the device to the rear thereof upon depressuring the fluid, whereby the device remains in its forward position to which it has been shifted upon each pressure application to the fluid, and continuing such alternate pressuring and depressuring of the fluid in the first tubular string to intermittently advance the device in the first tubular string into engagement with the valve and cause the device to shift the valve to open position.

5. A method of establishing communication between first and second tubular strings disposed in a well bore and having a passage therebetween closed by a valve in the first string, comprising moving a device through the first string in sealed relation therewith by alternately pres-- suring and depressuring the fluid in the first string rear wardly of the device to shift the device forwardly therein toward the valve upon the application of pressure to the fluid and allowing the fluid forwardly of the device to bypass the device to the rear thereof upon depressuring the fluid, whereby the device remains in its forward position to which it has been shifted upon each pressure application to the fluid, continuing such alternate pressuring and depressuring of the fluid in the first tubular string to intermittently advance the device in the first tubular string into engagement with the valve and cause the device to shift the valve to open position, and pumpin g fluid down said second string through said open valve into said first string to circulate the device upwardly through said first string to the top of the well bore.

6. A method of removing a sand bridge in a first tubular string in a well bore interconnected with a second tubular string in the well bore below the upper end of the sand bridge, said tubular string having an intercommunicating passage above the sand bridge normally closed by a valve in said first string, comprising moving a device through the first string in sealed relation therewith by alternately pressuring and depressuring the fluid in the first string rearwardly of the device to shift the device forwardly therein toward the valve upon the application of pressure to the fluid and allowing the fluid forwardly of the device to bypass the device to the rear thereof upon depressuring the fluid, whereby the device remains in its forward position to which it has been shifted upon each pressure application to the fluid, continuing such alternate pressuring and depressuring of the fluid to intermittently advance the device in the first string into engagement with the valve and cause the device to shift the valve to open position, and circulating fluid down through one of the strings through said open passage and upwardly through the other of the strings to wash the sand bridge from said first tubular string.

7. A method of removing a sand bridge in a first tubular string in a well bore interconnected with a second tubular string in the well bore below the upper end of the sand bridge, said tubular string having an intercommunicating passage above the sand bridge normally closed by a. valve in said first string, comprising moving a device through the first string in sealed relation therewith by alternately pressuring and depressuring the fluid in the first string rearwardly of the device to shift the device forwardly therein toward the valve. upon the application of pressure to the fluid and allowing the fluid forwardly of the device to bypass the device to the rear thereof upon depressuring the fluid, whereby the device remains in its forward position to which it has been shifted upon each pressure application to the fluid, continuing such alternate pressuring and depressuring of the fluid to intermittently advance the device in the first string into engagement with the valve and cause the device to shift the valve to open position, pumping fluid down said second string through said open passage into said first string to circulate the device upwardly through said first string and out of the well bore, lowering a washing tool through said first string and releasably securing said washing tool to said first string adjacent to said open passage, and circulating fluid through said strings, open passage and washing tool to wash the sand bridge from said first tubular string.

8. In combination: a tubular conduit adapted to contain a fluid and which is closed against circulation of fluid therethr-ough; a device in slidable sealed relation to said conduit and movable therein, said device having a bypass passage therein, valve means for closing said passage upon application of pressure to the fluid in said conduit rearwardly of the device and opening said passage upon depressuring of the fluid in said conduit rearwardly of the device; and means for alternately pressuring and depressuring the fluid in said conduit rearwardly of the device to intermittently advance said device in said conduit.

9. In combination: a tubular conduit adapted to contain a fluid and which is closed against circulation of fluid therethrough; a device movable in said conduit and having packing means thereon for slidably sealing against the conduit, said device having a bypass passage therein, check valve means in said passage for closing said passage upon application of pressure to the fluid in said conduit rearwardly of the device and opening said passage upon depressuring of the fluid in said conduit rearwardly of the device; and means for alternately pressuring and depressuring the fluid in said conduit rearwardly of the device to intermittently advance the device in said conduit.

10. In combination: first and second tubular strings disposed in a well bore and having a passage therebetween; first valve means in said first string for closing said passage; a device movable through the first tubular string toward said first valve means in sealed relation to said first tubular string and having a bypass passage therein; second valve means for closing said bypass upon application of pressure to fluid in said first tubular string above said device and for opening said bypass upon depressuring of the fluid in said first tubular string above said device; and means for alternately pressuring and depressuring the fluid in said first tubular string above said device to intermittently advance said device into engagement with said first valve means to shift said first valve means to passage opening position.

11. In combination: first and second tubular strings disposed in a well bore and having longitudinally spaced upper and lower passages therebetween; first valve means in said first string closing said upper passage; a device movable through said first tubular string toward said first valve means in sealed relation to said first tubular string and having a bypass passage therein; second valve means for closing said bypass upon application of pressure to fluid in said first tubular string above said device and for opening said bypass upon depressuring of the fluid in said first tubular string above said device; and means for alternately pressuring and depressuring the fluid in said first tubular string above said device to intermittently advance said device into engagement with said first valve means to shift said first valve means to a position opening said upper passage.

12. In a device adapted for movement through a tubular string containing a fluid: a body; seal means on said body for slidably sealing against the tubular string; said body having a bypass therethrough around said seal means; valve means on said body closing said bypass upon pressuring of fluid in the tubular string on one side of said seal means and opening said bypass upon depressuring of the fluid in the tubular string on said one side of said seal means; and outwardly expandable means on said body adapted for engagement with a device in the tubular string to shift the same.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,055,515 9/1936 Yarbrough 166-43 3,050,121 8/1962 Garrett et al. 166--224 3,052,302 9/1962 Laqucki 166153 3,070,167 12/1962 Loy et al. 166-153 3,130,782 4/1964 Rike 166154 JAMES A. LEPPINK, Primary Examiner. 

